One of the questions Holocaust survivors were asked over and over again was, why didn't you rebel? Why did you obey the brutal orders? Why did you agree to be crammed into cattle cars? How did dozens of Nazi soldiers manage to lead thousands to mass graves and crematoria?
The survivors gave one answer: Anyone who wasn't there wouldn't understand it.
And truly, only when one reads the full stories of Holocaust survivors do one realize what a sophisticated and cruel process was necessary for this horrific death machine to operate. It did not happen in an instant, but in a planned process that gradually transformed free people into submissive and obedient creatures, unable to even imagine resistance and rebellion.
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Atrocity propaganda
The Nazi extermination machine operated a vast system of deception. The millions crammed into trains truly believed they were about to start a new life elsewhere. Sick and wounded prisoners loaded onto trucks were convinced they were being taken to convalescent homes. The gas chambers were also disguised as shower rooms, designed to deceive the unfortunate into thinking they were about to bathe and refresh themselves.
The battle for consciousness is as important as, and perhaps more important than, the physical war, and here we certainly have reason to worry. Our enemies are constantly engaged in the war of consciousness. All means are lawful in their eyes to present us as cruel, monstrous, corrupt, and oppressive. Every wild lie that comes to mind is directed towards this goal.
They have no problem denying Jewish history in the Land of Israel, and seeing us as foreigners and occupiers. In their arrogance, they repeat over and over again the lie that Jerusalem has always been Arab, and that there has never been a Temple there.
A prisoner died of an illness in prison? We murdered him. Are there floods in Gaza? We opened dams and created the floods.
One can chuckle at the wild imagination and the delusional lies, but hundreds of millions of Arabs, in Israel and around the world, are absorbing the horrific propaganda. Is it any wonder that they are filled with hatred and murderous lust toward the Jewish people?
The question is what we do to fortify our self-consciousness. Our justice. Our full right in this land. Our being merciful, merciful people, who are forced to fight those who seek our lives with no choice. This challenge is not easy, because unfortunately we have Jews and media channels that echo the messages of our enemies.
Seal the crack
The 10th of Tevet marks the beginning of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. On this day, nothing had yet happened in Jerusalem or the Temple. Nevertheless, the 10th of Tevet is a strict fast, because it began the process that ultimately led to its destruction.
It is necessary to pay attention to the starting points of processes. When a small crack forms in a dam, it must be treated with the utmost seriousness, even though the dam is still standing and everything seems pastoral and peaceful. Because this small crack, if not plugged soon, may expand and cause the entire dam to burst.
We must strengthen the faith, the recognition of our righteousness, and our full right to this land in the hearts of the people. Only in this way can we repel the lies of our enemies and stand against them with spiritual strength.
